Changeable outer shell for wallet or purse

ABSTRACT

A personal storage article such as a wallet, purse, pocketbook, or other similar item, includes a removable and changeable outer shell. The outer shell feature provides a relatively low-cost fashion option for the wearer, and allows the wearer to conveniently maintain the content of the personal storage article while switching exterior styles. The shell also provides the user an opportunity to customize the functionality of the personal storage article by joining the host with a shell that has additional functional properties.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.60/809,070, filed May 26, 2006, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for customizing personalstorage articles such as a wallet, purse, pocketbook or other similaritem, and more particularly to the use of a removable outer shell tochange the appearance and function of the personal storage article.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The typical personal storage article, such as a wallet, purse orpocketbook, has both aesthetic and functional components. For example,from a functional point of view, a wallet has to hold money. In additionthough, many feel that the wallet should also have a certain aestheticproperty as well to reflect a desired appearance. Another example is awoman's purse or pocketbook. With these items, the look of the purse orpocketbook is often considered by the user to be more important than theability of the bag to hold needed items.

Presently, circumstances often require a user to own multiple personalstorage articles, each for a given purpose. The purpose can beaesthetic, for example, to match a given outfit. The purpose can also befunctional, for example, to make the personal storage item capable ofstoring various amounts of objects. The prior art requires the purchaseof a different personal storage article for each different application.

Additionally, the purchase of a personal storage article can be asubstantial investment. For example, purses can sell for several hundredor even thousands of dollars. Repeated use can result in wear and tearon the outside surface of the article, thereby degrading its aestheticcharacteristics, and requiring its replacement. This can be an expensiveproposition.

Prior art personal storage articles have attempted to address theabove-described problems by providing products with removable andchangeable interiors or handles, but none with completely removable andchangeable outer shells.

Accordingly, a need exists for a personal storage device that addressesthe above-described deficiencies in the prior art by providing apersonal storage device whose aesthetic and functional characteristicsare not fixed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems identified above byproviding a system for combining a personal storage article with aremovable outer shell that allows for appearance and functionalitycustomization. The inventive changeable outer shell feature provides arelatively low-cost fashion option for the wearer and allows the wearerto conveniently maintain the content of the personal storage articlewhile switching exterior styles. The invention also provides the user anopportunity to customize the functionality of the personal storagearticle by joining the host with a shell that has additional functionalproperties.

In one aspect of the invention, a shell for use with a personal storagearticle is disclosed. The shell contains a cover that is fastened to thepersonal storage article in a temporary manner, such that it can beremoved. The cover is shaped to conform with the outer surface of thepersonal storage article and can contain a functional element, such as ahidden pocket, a pocket, additional storage space, or a photo holder.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the personal storage article canbe intended for use with a shell (or a series of shells) and may or maynot include an integral fastening mechanism.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the shell is designed for usewith a personal storage article host that was not previously intendedfor such use. In that case, the fastener of the cover may attach visiblyor invisibly to the personal storage article, and may or may not requirethe modification of the personal storage article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a host wallet according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a host purse according to a secondembodiment.

FIG. 3 shows one example of an outer shell for use with a wallet host.

FIG. 4 shows one example of an outer shell for use with a purse host.

FIG. 5 illustrates how an outer shell could fasten to a host wallet.

FIG. 6 illustrates how an outer shell could fasten to a host purse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The inventive system combines a wallet, purse, pocketbook, or othersimilar item, with a removable outer shell that can be changed toaccommodate at least one different, pre-fabricated shell. The shell cancome in a variety of styles and designs to suit the wearer's mood orcomplement the wearer's overall fashion style or “look.” Alternatively,the shell may provide added functionality, and can be replaced whendifferent functionality is desired, or an existing functionality is nolonger needed.

In one example, a basic wallet or purse would be the “host” to theshell. In a given size, the host would remain the same, but thepre-fabricated shells could differ aesthetically in terms of material,texture and graphic design or pattern on the material. The materialcould be cloth, leather, plastic or any other suitable material. Thepre-fabricated shells could also differ in terms of added functionalityprovided. For example, a given shell may have a hidden pocket,additional storage space, a photo holder or other such structure. Thehosts and shells could be manufactured and sold as separate pieces or aspart of a package. In another embodiment, “shells” could be manufacturedat standard sizes for use with “hosts” that were not originally designedto be used in conjunction with a “shell.”

The host wallet or purse could be constructed in a similar manner tocurrent products on the market. The removable outer shell could befastened to the edges, or other areas of the personal storage articlehost with a small zipper or other fasteners such as buttons, snaps,Velcro or hooks (or a combination of different types of fasteners).Hosts can be produced in different sizes and shapes. One or more shellscan be constructed appropriate for use with that size and shape host.

The host wallet, purse, or other similar item, could be a standarddesign on the inside—compartments for cash, slots for cards and a pocketfor change, etc. In one embodiment, the exterior surface of the host ismodified in some manner to accommodate a fastener that will attach theouter shell. Such fastener could be visible from the exterior of theshell, or invisible. In another embodiment, the shell is capable ofattaching to the host without the need for any modification to the host.

FIG. 1 shows a wallet 100 according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. The wallet 100 has been modified to be non-permanentlyattached to a removable shell through the use of a fastener receptor102, which is a zipper in the present example. The fastener receptor 102is attached to an outer surface 101 of the wallet 100. One of skill inthe art would appreciate that the fastener itself could be attached tothe wallet, with the receptor for the fastener instead attached to theshell.

Similarly, FIG. 2 shows a purse 103 according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention. The purse 103 has been modified to benon-permanently attached to a removable shell through the use of amultiple fastener receptors 105 a and 105 b, that are designed to matewith multiple fasteners. Fastener receptors 105 a and 105 b are attachedto an outer surface 104 of the purse 103. One of skill in the art wouldappreciate that any number of fasteners (including a single fastener) orany type of suitable fastener could be substituted in place of fasteners105 a and 105 b.

FIG. 3 shows a removable shell 106 for use with wallet 100. Fastener 108is attached to the sides of the outer surface of the shell 107. In thepresent example the outer surface 107 contains a heart pattern. Anydesired visual appearance can be achieved by so modifying the pattern,shape or materials that comprise shell 106.

FIG. 4 shows a removable shell 109 for use with purse 103. Fasteners 111a and 111 b are attached to the sides of the outer surface of the shell110. In the present example the outer surface of the shell 110 containsa flower pattern.

FIG. 5 shows shell 106 non-permanently attached to wallet 100 throughthe mating of fastener 108 and fastener receptor 102.

Similarly, FIG. 6 shows shell 109 non-permanently attached to purse 103though the mating of fastener 111 a with fastener receptor 105 a andfastener 111 b with fastener receptor 105 b.

The form of the removable shell might vary. In a first embodiment, thehost might fit completely within the shell. In another embodiment theshell might consist of panels of material that are fastened separatelyto the surfaces of the personal storage article.

A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there aremany possible ways of mating the host to the shell. The exactmethodology used is not important to the present invention—only that thehost and shell can be temporarily joined, and easily separated, asdesired. For example, the following is a non-exhaustive list of possiblemechanisms:

Zipper—A small zipper could fasten the outer shell to the host. Half ofthe zipper track would be on the host, the other half on the outershell. When zipped together the outer shell is joined to the host.

Buttons—Small buttons could fasten the outer shell to the host. Thebuttons would be sewn around the edges of the host. The outer shellwould have corresponding buttonholes. When buttoned together the outershell is joined to the host.

Snaps—Small snaps could fasten the outer shell to the host. The femalesnaps would be sewn around the edges of the host. The outer shell wouldhave corresponding male snaps. When snapped together the outer shell isjoined to the host.

Velcro—Small strips of Velcro could fasten the outer shell to the host.The Velcro would be sewn around the edges of the host. The outer shellwould have corresponding Velcro material. When pressed together theouter shell is joined to the host.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be appreciated that various changes can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A shell for use with a personal storage article, said removable shell comprising: a cover made of at least a first material, wherein said cover is shaped to conform with an outer surface of said personal storage article, such that said personal storage article can be located at least partly within said cover, wherein said personal storage article is selected from the group consisting of a wallet, purse and a pocketbook; a fastener for reversibly attaching said cover to said personal storage article; and a functional element operatively attached to said cover that provides an additional functionality to a functionality provided by said personal storage article.
 2. The shell of claim 1, wherein said first material is selected from the group consisting of cloth, leather, and plastic.
 3. The shell of claim 1, wherein said fastener is selected from the group consisting of zippers, buttons, snaps, Velcro and hooks.
 4. The shell of claim 1, wherein said fastener is a combination of different fasteners selected from the group consisting of zippers, buttons, snaps, Velcro and hooks.
 5. The shell of claim 1, wherein said personal storage article is modified to accommodate the fastener.
 6. The shell of claim 1, wherein no modification of said personal storage article is required to accommodate the fastener.
 7. The shell of claim 1, wherein said fastener is visible from the exterior of the cover.
 8. The shell of claim 1, wherein said fastener is invisible from the exterior of the cover.
 9. The shell of claim 1 wherein said personal storage article was not designed for use in conjunction with said shell.
 10. The shell of claim 1, wherein said functional element is selected from the group consisting of a hidden pocket, a pocket, additional storage space, and a photo holder.
 11. A system for personal storage, said system for personal storage comprising: a personal storage article, wherein said personal storage article is selected from the group consisting of a wallet, purse and a pocketbook; a cover made of at least a first material, wherein said cover is shaped to conform with an outer surface of said personal storage article, such that said personal storage article can be located at least partly within said cover, a fastener for reversibly attaching said cover to said host; and a functional element operatively attached to said cover that provides a functionality in additional to a functionality provided by said personal storage article.
 12. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein said first material is selected from the group of cloth, leather, or plastic.
 13. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein said fastener is selected from the group of zippers, buttons, snaps, Velcro or hooks.
 14. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein said fastener is a combination of different fasteners elected from the group of zippers, buttons, snaps, Velcro or hooks.
 15. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein said personal storage article is modified to accommodate the fastener.
 16. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein no modification of said personal storage article is required to accommodate the fastener.
 17. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein said fastener is visible from the exterior of the cover.
 18. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein said fastener is invisible from the exterior of the cover.
 19. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein said personal storage article was not designed for use in conjunction with said cover.
 20. The system for personal storage of claim 11, wherein said functional element is selected from the group of a hidden pocket, a pocket, additional storage space, and a photo holder. 